IMAGE PREP™

Reliable tissue sample preparation enables high-sensitivity imaging of the spatial distribution of protein biomarkers and drug candidates in biological and clinical research. The ImagePrep is a Matrix Deposition Device for MALDI Imaging in Biomarker Discovery, Drug Imaging and Pathology Research. Using unique vibrational vaporization technology, ImagePrep provides highly reproducible matrix preparations for MALDI Imaging with a fully automated process. On tissue, a lateral resolution of 50 µm is achieved and high quality mass spectra for localization of biomarkers in tissue slices are obtained. The complete MALDI Molecular Imaging solution comprises the fully-automated ImagePrep station, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, data analysis and statistical evaluation software. Technical Details: • New Technology: Vibrational Vaporization. In the ImagePrep station, a matrix aerosol is created by vibrational vaporization under controlled conditions that is gently deposited onto tissue sections. An average droplet size of app ≅ 20 µm is generated, all droplet diameters are < 50 µm. • Reproducibility and Quality Control: An optical sensor monitors the light scattered from matrix crystals to control all relevant preparation parameters in real-time: deposition periods and intervals, matrix layer thickness, wetness, drying rate, etc. It enables active process control and ultimate reproducibility. • MALDI Molecular Imager Solution: The ImagePrep station completes the MALDI Molecular Imaging solution from Bruker consisting of a high performance MALDI-TOF/TOF system with smartbeam™ laser technology, flexImaging software, and an electrically conductive glass slide assembly, delivering full integration from data acquisition to image analysis and patented ClassImaging for classification of samples.